Oilers’ backup Nikolai Khabibulin is an unrestricted free agent this summer. Does it make sense for the team to keep him around rather than shopping elsewhere?

Four years ago, the Oilers signed Nikolai Khabibulin as a free agent. Over his previous four years in Chicago, Khabibulin had a mix of performance and health problems, but he redeemed himself somewhat with a tremendous contract year. History seems to have repeated itself. Over four seasons in Edmonton, Khabibulin has had a mix of performance and health problems, but once again has come through at the end of his contract with a 0.923 save percentage over 12 games. Just as it didn’t in 2009, that late surge doesn’t make Khabibulin a good fit for the team.

Injury

Khabibulin was well-established as one of the most injury prone starting goalies in the NHL when the Oilers signed him. From 2006-06 to 2008-09, Khabibulin missed 66 games (an average of 17 per season) to a variety of maladies, with most of them being back and lower body injuries. That total ranked him fourth among NHL starters in time missed to injury; ahead of him were Pascal Leclaire (since retired), Rick DiPietro (the Islanders only wish he was retired) and Kari Lehtonen (he’s been remarkably healthy since).

In the four years since, injuries have been a frequent problem for Khabibulin. Via TSN, here’s the list of games missed to injury:

2009-10: Missed 60 games (back injury)

2010-11: Missed six games (groin injury)

2010-11: Missed four games (eye injury)

2011-12: Missed five games (groin injury)

2012-13: Missed five games (hip injury)

2012-13: Missed eight games (groin injury)

Total: 88 games lost to injury, average of 22 per season

For just under one in three games the Oilers have played since signing Khabibulin, the veteran goaltender has been on injured reserve. If not for the lockout, that total would have been inflated, as Khabibulin was on injured reserve to start the 2013 season.

Khabibulin is now 40 years old. Injury was a concern when the Oilers signed an oft-injured 36-year old; it’s more of a concern four years later.

Performance

Khabibulin was coming off a difficult four-year stint in Chicago when the Oilers signed him. He had won the Stanley cup with Tampa Bay just before the lockout, and the Blackhawks paid big money for him to solve their goaltending problems. Instead, he was terrible in 2005-06, moderately better in 2006-07, decent in 2007-08 and quite good in 2008-09. Overall, he posted a 0.904 save percentage over that span – a total that ranked 27th among goalies with a minimum of 100 starts in that period.

Khabibulin’s performance in Edmonton has been similar. He was pretty good in an 18-game first season before injury knocked him out of the lineup, but was then terrible the following year. A hot start in 2011-12 combined with a brutal finish propelled him to average-ish overall numbers, and then in a short stint this season Khabibulin was excellent. Overall, he posted a 0.903 save percentage over four years in Edmonton – almost the same total as he managed in Chicago, except that NHL goaltending has improved. Among goalies with a minimum of 100 games played over those four years, Khabibulin’s 0.903 save percentage ranks 39th of 42 players.

Bottom Line

Khabibulin is a terrible fit for the Oilers. Ideally, the Oilers need a backup they can count on to play (Khabibulin can’t be, due to injury), play well (Khabibulin has not consistently done so) and ideally someone who can continue to push starter Devan Dubnyk or take over for a stretch if he falters or gets hurt (something Khabibulin simply isn’t capable of doing at this stage of his career).

When it comes to addressing the number two goaltending slot in Edmonton, Nikolai Khabibulin shouldn’t be in the conversation.

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Jonathan Willis is a freelance writer.
He currently works for Oilers Nation, Sportsnet, the Edmonton Journal and Bleacher Report.
He's co-written three books and worked for myriad websites, including Grantland, ESPN, The Score, and Hockey Prospectus. He was previously the founder and managing editor of Copper & Blue.

Vancouver is going through a cycle most teams go through. They had a window of 3 yrs to win the Cup and now they are an above average team that will make the playoffs next year. I don't know what all the panic is for, Sedins are getting older perhaps no longer a #1 line. They have work to do to become a Stanley Cup contender but this is normal for teams. There core is not young which is the biggest problem for them

Yeah...your right...they're going through a CYCLE all right.....zero Stanley Cups in thier entire history! Now that's a Cycle!

DD is not a playoff type of goalie.........yes he does make his share of saves, but he lets goals in at all the wrong time too.

He should be considered a back up or at best a goalie that can play half the games, or a dual goalie situation, at least until he gets consistent.

WTF?!?!

The Oilers have never played a playoff game since Dubnyk was drafted....how do you know he's not a playoff goaltender? Are you aware that most players ELEVATE their game during the playoffs? (Vancouver and Minnesota being the exceptions).

You know who else wasn't a playoff goalie until he actually played in the playoffs?........EVERY frigin GOALIE!

The Oilers have never played a playoff game since Dubnyk was drafted....how do you know he's not a playoff goaltender? Are you aware that most players ELEVATE their game during the playoffs? (Vancouver and Minnesota being the exceptions).

You know who else wasn't a playoff goalie until he actually played in the playoffs?........EVERY frigin GOALIE!

He has a point the ORG.

Dubey just isn't that good. If he was we'd have made the playoffs atleast once. Even Grant Fuhr had us in the finals during his ELC. This Dubnyk to me looks more bum than boffo.

They do need to make a big move though to give themselves a new look and free up dollars to add another impact player up front.

Van is the only team who can boast 4 legitimate top-pairing D. Not tomention two All-Star goalies. If they can get some quality young assets in return and then have $ to go after a high-end buyout candidate or UFA (eg Horton, Briere, or Heatley), they could easily finish at the top of their conference and keep the window open another 3 years.

Big summer for Gillis though, and big changes do need to be made.

Seriously?

What playoffs have you been watching?

Corey Schnider an All-Star...where?..in Kazakastan?

Briere and Heatley? You left out Martin Havlat.

If Vancouver EVER had a WINDOW...it would be made by a company called "Fair Weather Windows"...Playoffs arrive and the sisters close the window....Poof...It's like magic!

Keep Roy as far from here as possible. An absolute dressing room cancer. There is a reason this guy is always available. Not close to Gagner, IMO. Has as much edge as a wet Kleenex. Even you know that DSF. I assume this is your shiny hook in the water. Lets move on.

Raymond - meh. I realize he would be an upgrade to a few guys but the Oilers need more grit from those positions. Plus dude is a M*A*S*H unit.
We will take Edler. Keep the rest of the crap. This squad played exactly four more games this season than the Oil.

He's always thought he should be gifted first line and first line PP minutes.

My source is his GM in junior who thinks the young man has a lot of growing up to do.

You realize Gagner played his junior in London where his Dad is part of the organization and is one of GM Mark Hunter's oldest friends (they go back to the Brantford Alexanders when they were an OHL franchise). If you insist on clogging up our discussion board and the moderators refuse to ban you because you drive up the number of hits, at least try and make your arguments plausible when you are talking out your arse... I know you're better with Google than this.